CVE-2023-0373 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-0373 involves a vulnerability in the Lightweight Accordion WordPress plugin that can lead to Stored Cross-Site Scripting attacks for users with the contributor role and above.

Understanding CVE-2023-0373

The Lightweight Accordion plugin before version 1.5.15 is susceptible to a Contributor+ Stored XSS vulnerability, allowing malicious users to execute scripts in the context of a user’s session.

What is CVE-2023-0373?

CVE-2023-0373 is a Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Lightweight Accordion WordPress plugin. It arises from the lack of validation and escaping of certain block options before rendering them on a page or post where the block is inserted.

The Impact of CVE-2023-0373

This vulnerability allows users with the contributor role and above to inject and execute arbitrary scripts on affected WordPress sites. An attacker could exploit this to steal sensitive information, hijack sessions, or deface websites.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-0373

The following technical aspects are associated with CVE-2023-0373:

Vulnerability Description

The Lightweight Accordion plugin fails to properly sanitize input data, enabling malicious contributors and higher roles to insert harmful scripts that get executed in the context of other users.

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerable version of the Lightweight Accordion plugin is any version prior to 1.5.15. Websites using this plugin version are at risk of exploitation.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging the lack of input validation, an attacker with a contributor role or higher can craft malicious content within the Lightweight Accordion block settings, leading to the execution of unauthorized scripts.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard your WordPress site from CVE-2023-0373 and similar vulnerabilities, it is essential to take the following measures:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update the Lightweight Accordion plugin to version 1.5.15 or later to patch the vulnerability.
Monitor user-generated content for suspicious activities and scripts.
Restrict user roles with minimal privileges to reduce the impact of potential attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly audit and update all plugins and themes to the latest secure versions.
Implement security plugins or firewalls that can help prevent XSS attacks.
Educate users with elevated privileges on safe content creation practices.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates released by plugin developers and apply patches promptly to protect your WordPress site from known vulnerabilities like CVE-2023-0373.